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Critical Essay

The document summarizes the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spanish rule to inspire Filipinos to continue fighting for freedom. While Apolinario Mabini opposed it, arguing the priority should be establishing a stable government, Aguinaldo pushed forward with the proclamation. It considers the Spanish government a "ominous joke" and asserts the right of the Filipino people to be free and independent. The proclamation was a major turning point in Philippine history that urged greater patriotism, even if actual independence took many more years to achieve.

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Jan Edrin Paypon
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115 views

Critical Essay

The document summarizes the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spanish rule to inspire Filipinos to continue fighting for freedom. While Apolinario Mabini opposed it, arguing the priority should be establishing a stable government, Aguinaldo pushed forward with the proclamation. It considers the Spanish government a "ominous joke" and asserts the right of the Filipino people to be free and independent. The proclamation was a major turning point in Philippine history that urged greater patriotism, even if actual independence took many more years to achieve.

Uploaded by

Jan Edrin Paypon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jan Edrin P. Esteban BSECE1A Jan.

29, 2019 GEC 2

The Proclamation of the Philippine Independence


A Critical Essay

Written by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, The Act of Decleration of Philippine


Independence was first read on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite (formerly known as
Cavite el Viejo), together with the first unfurling of the Philippine flag and playing of the
National Anthem. It was then signed by 98 witnesses including an American army
officer.

Sooner with the Filipino rebellion, the Spaniards were puzzled from being
defeated one battle after another. Aguinaldo thought it was necessary to declare the
independence to inspire the Filipinos to fight eagerly until they reach their
uncompromised freedom. Though there is an opposition of Apolinario Mabini, his
unofficial adviser, which argued that it is more important to reorganize the government
so that the foreign power will be convinced that the Filipinos now have a stable and
competent new government, yet Aguinaldo still won the argument, and the
proclamation was then conducted.

The text of the proclamation was originally written in Spanish, and it consider
the Spanish government as an “ominous joke” which means that their is no fun at all in
that time. It was talking mainly about how the revolutionary take action way back in
the time of Ferdinand Magellan’s exploration. It also speak that at the time the
proclamation is read to the people, the Philippine independence is already assured. It
says that the Filipino has the right to be free and independent from the colonization,
and they have the privilege to be what a free State should be.

Noticed that Aguinaldo was addressed as “Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y


Famy” and not as “General” as we all know from the books and sources we formerly
use. Being a General during the Spanish colonization was just a Filipino army that
was given a position but still being enslaved by the government. On the other hand, to
be a dictator in that era grabbed the attention of the Spaniards that there is someone
to be feared of. Aguinaldo became a dictator in order for the Filipinos to fight for their
freedom no matter what happens. The government should see how united and
desperate the Filipinos to achieve freedom. Aguinaldo thought that there will be one
and common goal if he will lead his countrymen as a Supreme Leader of the Nation.
He also believed that he was chosen by God, as what Dr. Jose Rizal foretold on his
verses when he was imprison.

In my point of view, the proclamation of the Philippine independence was


one of the greatest turning point of the country’s history. There were several
similarities of it to the EDSA Revolution. Both events were done before achieving the
actual independence bestowed by those in position. Although they all know how
powerful the Spaniard government is, they didn’t thought twice to declare something
that will urge the Filipino to be more patriotic. And because of this event, our
ancestors did not fear when the governance was passed to the Americans. Even
there was a number of years before the Americans gave the true independence,
Filipinos were not discouraged, instead they gradually loved the country. Up to this
day, we, the younger generation, still enjoying what our past sacrificed. The amount of
blood that was offered was not a real lost because we are now doing what a free State
should be, a dream that our heroes are fighting for.

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